10 of America's best drive-thru liquor stores

Ingeniously located at the intersection of "I want a drink" and "I don’t want to put on pants", the drive-thru liquor store may very well be the pinnacle of American convenience.

Yes, they do exist, in all their contradictory glory. Yes, they are legal, at least in some towns and counties. And, yes, nothing beats the ability to buy a keg of Red Dog without actually getting out of your Neon.

With that in mind, here are 10 drive-thru packies worth a detour on your next road trip.

related

Best for that real convenient store feel

Alta Dena Drive-In DairySan Diego, CA
The best part about this drive-thru? It's actually a drive-through -- as in, you drive INSIDE THE STORE, right up to the cash register. Plus, in addition to alcohol, they sell all your basics – from milk and ice cream, to chips and condoms.

Best for... winning awards?
Henry’s LiquorsPhoenix, AZ
Voted "Best Drive-Thru Liquor Store" by the Phoenix New Times, this no-frills oldie is a definite goodie, and has been family run for over a decade.

Best for babes

Beer To Go Drive Thru Beer BarnDallas, TX
As if booze delivered right to your car isn't enough, at BTGDTBB, it's handed to you by women wearing bikinis and sexy costumes. And if women in bikinis and sexy costumes still isn't enough, they also serve daiquiris and margaritas to-go.

Best hybrid
O'Neill's Pub and LiquorSuperior, WI
This cozy Irish pub with a fireplace and leather chairs features a walk-in beer cave, a jukebox, and a handy on-site liquor drive-thru, you know, in case you're too busy to come in for a pint to say hi.

Best for kegs

Hoboken Beer and Soda OutletHoboken, NJ
In addition to a solid selection of craft suds, this place also peddles an inordinate array of kegs (from Hofbräu München Oktoberfestbier, to Sapporo, to Peroni), all which they'll dump straight into your trunk.

Best for brown boozeLiquor WorldBardstown, KY
Located on the Bourbon Trail and in the “Bourbon Capital of the World”, it’s no surprise that this un-imaginatively named drive-thru sells an insane selection of... local vodka!!! Just kidding. Bourbons and ryes, of course. They even offer custom single-barrel bottles, hand-selected by the knowledgeable owner.

Best for keepin' it classy

W Grill to GoHouston, TX
Six margarita flavors, piña coladas, beer and wine to go, and pants are optional. How is this not in Florida?

Best for daiquiris
Cajun DaiquirisShreveport, LA
Louisiana is famous for its drive-thru daiquiri shops but this joint is a must-hit, local fave. In addition to featuring two happy hours a day (one conveniently during lunchtime), they also pour naughty-named drinks like the Freak-N-U, Pimp Juice, and Shake the Haters Off. Customers in the know, however, roll with the off-menu concoctions named for Michelle and Barack Obama.

related

related

Best double duty

Double Shot Liquor and GunsSchulenburg, TX
Liquor and guns! Liquor and guns. Now if that’s not American, we don’t know what is. Somehow, this place is now closed, but we felt it warranted a mention.

Best for late-night

Big Daddy’s Liquor Store & Carry OutNewport, KY
The after-party friendly Big Daddy’s stays open until 2.30am (later than any of the bars in the area), and it's not uncommon to see taxis snaking around the block after the bars throw everybody out.

Sophie-Claire Hoeller is Thrillist's associate travel editor, and used a drive-thru liquor store once, in Australia, to fill the trunk with VB. Follow her @Sohostyle

8 American Cities Making Big Improvements in 2018

So they closed your favorite dive bar and put in a Lululemon in the name of “urban renewal.” Gentrification affects us all, especially when we enjoy all-day $5 PBR-and-a-shot specials or, y’know, affordable housing.

On the flip side, blight is real, and American cities are recognizing how much value they’ve been ignoring in empty paved lots, in abandoned buildings, and in decrepit post-industrial spaces. Done right, urban renewal allows a city to claim more of its potential, without scrambling neighborhoods along the way.

As urban cores grow, major projects are transforming cities large and small -- think old warehouses getting overhauled in Phoenix, or the former home of the Magic now housing Orlando’s creative class. It’s partly why some small and mid-sized cities are fast becoming great destinations to visit and live, while other US neighborhoods are about to grow like weeds, changing how you travel around America.

David VonDerLinn

Sponsored

8 Cultural Activities To Class Up Your LA Weekend

Sure, it’s great to spend your weekends watching Marvel movies and DVRing Vanderpump Rules on the DL. But sometimes, you want to do something a little more refined. A little more elegant. Perhaps, you’d like to partake in an activity with a little... culture.

If the last “art” exhibit you liked was a beauty influencer's Instagram, it might be time to break out of your routine and tour some of the cultural highlights of Southern California. Luckily, Los Angeles is surrounded by lovely locales that offer the chance to experience fine art, dance, film, and history, all while taking a break from the city. So, plan a weekend day away and visit one of these cultural gems just outside of LA.

Shutterstock

Travel

Southwest Sale Has $44 Flights All Over the US

It's February, the month that makes you think winter is just about over. In reality, this snowy hellscape is far from ending. When the first snow of March lands, you'll start to wonder if you live in Winterfell.

It might be a good time to dig up a cheap flight to somewhere warm. Southwest has a flash sale running right now that could take you all over the US. There are even a couple international destinations available. In the sale, you'll find one-way flights as cheap as $44 and dozens for $49.

On one of those $44 flights, you can get round trip for as little as $92.48.